Sleigh Bells, Po Po, and Nerve City at Radio Radio

The past couple years have been pretty good for fuzzy dance music. Whatever you want to call it — dream pop, chillwave, noise pop, trip hop, some have even used “shoegaze” inappropriately (nothing boils the genre nerd’s blood more than a misused description) — dance tracks recorded in a bedroom and treated with a fine coating of fuzz have become all the rage. Just look at the success of bands like Beach House, Wavves, Bat for Lashes, Real Estate, and Best Coast, all relatively new bands that have been caught in the two edged sword of blogger buzz and catapulted into the limelight. Indianapolis bands have even rode the wave a bit: case in point is Burnt Ones, though they’re more dreamy garage or “electric sleaze,” as they put it, (genre nerd rears his ugly head again). Sleigh Bells is another band poised to hit it big in the indie dance market, and they’re taking their new found fame to Indianapolis. On Monday, July 12, Sleigh Bells, Po Po, and Nerve City will be playing a sold out show at Radio Radio.

ABC News video about and interview with Sleigh Bells, a much hyped band that will be playing at Radio Radio in Indianapolis on July 12

Yet another band hailing from Brooklyn, the rich musical soil that helped germinate the seeds of recent musical buzz bands like The Antlers, Yeasayer, Here We Go Magic, and Bear in Heaven, Sleigh Bells released their highly anticipated full length, Treats, in May of 2010. A lot of “dream pop” bands take their musical cues from 60’s doo wop groups, Brian Wilson, and other dusty musical gems, but Sleigh Bells takes the club attitude and swagger of Rihanna, combines it with the snooty hand clap percussiveness of a spoiled Indianapolis high school cheerleader squad, then adds fuzzy, neck breaking bass drums and overdriven guitars to the mix. The result is the sonic lovechild of M.I.A. (whose record label Sleigh Bells belongs to) and Dinosaur Jr., a screaming baby that almost brings to mind a trippier The Go Team (anybody remember them?).

Video of Sleigh Bells performing “Treats” live at SXSW; Sleigh Bells will be playing at Radio Radio in Indianapolis on July 12

Though Sleigh Bells would probably be more at home at a dance oriented nightclub like TRU Nightclub, Talbott Street Nightclub, or even The Vogue, Radio Radio should provide an intimate Indianapolis music venue for an intimate rave. Sleigh Bells might not have the most unique or even interesting sound once you get beyond the (really cool and well done) production, but they’ll sure be able to start a party the likes of which Indianapolis nightlife rarely sees, especially because Treats has done so well. Indianapolis media and United States media have all lauded Sleigh Bells; they’re scheduled to perform at the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago, and they’ve already performed at Coachella this year. Treats reached #39 on the Billboard Top 200, not bad for a debut record.

Video of Sleigh Bells performing “Tell ‘Em” live in Austin, TX; Sleigh Bells will be playing at Radio Radio in Indianapolis on July 12

Performing with Sleigh Bells will be Philadelphia garage rock duo Po Po and drone pop group Nerve City. Po Po combines some pretty catchy blues and metal riffs with those spacey, atmospheric vocals that are so popular right now to make a pretty good stoner rock band that should be very interesting to watch. Nerve City plays down-tuned, lo-fi rock, kind of like Beta Male without all the synths. It’s a pretty chill blend, combining plenty of atmospheric guitar noises and found sounds with the bored to tears monotone vocals that were common in new wave (think The Smiths) and are now making a resurgence. Both of these supporting bands are pretty obscure, so this is your chance to catch them before they get big.

Video of Sleigh Bells performing live at Coachella in 2010; Sleigh Bells will be playing at Radio Radio in Indianapolis on July 12

On Monday, July 12, Indianapolis music will get a taste of this whole dream pop movement when Sleigh Bells, Po Po, and Nerve City play at Radio Radio. The Indianapolis cultural district of Fountain Square will likely be crammed with hipsters looking to see the latest buzz band, and by all indications Sleigh Bells will put on a very danceable, very energetic live show. The Circle City is certainly excited about it: Monday’s Sleigh Bells show is absolutely sold out. This cool Indianapolis event begins at 8:00 p.m. and will run late into the night, with participants likely streaming into Indianapolis bars around 1 to recount the night’s experiences. If you weren’t fortunate enough to get a ticket, don’t worry; you’ll probably get the chance to see Sleigh Bells again if the gold plated dream pop wave stays potent into 2011.

Sleigh Bells, Po Po, and Nerve City at Radio Radio Monday, July 12 at 8:00 p.m.
SOLD OUT